All 6.213kms of bumps and turns watched menacing by the encroaching walls pose a challenge. Associate this with 161 laps of intrigue and you have the Bathurst 1000. Supercars' marquee event, the Bathurst 1000 at Mt Panorama is fast approaching. 
    The Mt Panorama circuit started as a tourist scenic drive, but its potential as a racing circuit was soon recognised by local authorities. Racing commenced in 1938 with the Australian Tourist Trophy. The Armstrong 500 (miles) moved from Philip Island to Mt Panorama in 1963. The distance increased to 1000kms in 1973, and thus became known as the Bathurst 1000 and been contested every year since. Now the 23 turns with a 174m elevation disparity between Murray's Corner at the start of pit straight and Skyline at the top of the mountain present the ultimate challenge for Australia's top Supercar drivers. Whether it be the fast evolving weather, the invasive kangaroos, mechanical gremlins, the teams and drivers race the circuit as much as each other, and when the Mountain bites, it bites hard. 
    The Bathurst 1000 presents itself as the only true endurance race for the 2021 Supercars' Championship. All entrants are utilising the services of a co-driver, with teamwork the key for unlocking success in the Great Race. As mentioned, 161 laps with 7 compulsory pit stops and driver changes provide the perfect ingredients for the toughest race to win in Australian motorsport. This year the Bathurst 1000 is being run much later than ever in December. It is also starting at the latest time ever at 12.15pm. Will fading light be an issue if the weather is questionable? Since the Great Race is the culmination of a mammoth 6 day event, will the increased amount of rubber laid down on the circuit translate to quicker lap times? Will the vastly different ambient conditions present new challenges for the teams to negotiate? Already the apprehensive excitement is palpable.
    The 2021 Supercars' Championship has already been decided. Red Bull Racing's Shane van Gisbergen has attained an unassailable lead in the drivers', and Red Bull have done likewise in the teams'. Red Bull's other driver, the 7 time champ Jamie Whincup is retiring from full time competition after Bathurst. We've already seen at the recent Sydney Cup at Sydney Motorsport Park that he is unwilling to acquiesce to team orders and has clearly stated he's out to win. Is there a chance of more paint swapping between the two Red Bull drivers at Bathurst? Perhaps we'll see a complete surprise prevail at the Great Race. We'll know in a week....

    What a riveting season this year's Formula One championship has been. The title quest seems unwilling to attach itself to the two leading championship contenders. Will Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton win an unprecedented 8th title, or will Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen abscond with his first? The so called Mercedes circuits have gone to Red Bull, and the Red Bull strongholds have been opportunistically snatched by Mercedes. This is one of the best seasons that we can ever recall. 
    Many a pundit has previously suggested that Max will succumb to the pressure as Lewis has won the championship multiple times before. We don't subscribe to this ideal. Max is mentally extremely strong, unperturbed by outside influences, and hence unflappable. Remember he started F1 only 2 years after winning the World Karting Championship. Many a karting champion has not been able to cut it in formula categories, but not Verstappen. Besides you don't become world karting champ without withstanding pressure, as it's impossible to control the race and win by 20 seconds or more like you can in other categories. The competition is always right there behind you waiting to pounce on any mistake. With five F1 races left to go, it's refreshing to read that many of these pundits have changed their tune. Hamilton could still very well win this year, and Max will be just as unflappable. He knows he'll have his day. Do you think that Max is a once in a generation driver?
    Tomorrow morning's (Australian time) Mexican Grand Prix could present an intriguing scenario. Mercedes have surprisingly locked out the front row with Red Bull on the second row at a so called Red Bull circuit. Max's team mate Sergio Perez is Mexican and a national superstar. Imagine a situation where Perez could be in a position to win the race, but told to let Verstappen pass for the sake of the championship? Bold and brazen to say the least. But how will the Mexican fans react?